CityLab Daily: Petty Politics Delay Condo Repairs in Florida
Also today: France tries to wall off crack users with an actual wall, and the dangerous promise of the self-driving car.
Winston Towers 700 in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, on Sept. 10. The complex's residents fell into bitter infighting over expensive repairs.
Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg
Just a few miles away from where the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominiums in Surfside, Florida, claimed the lives of 98 residents in June, petty politics kept another nearby condo board from getting a a $11.9 million repair plan off the ground. The drama at Winston Towers 700 exemplifies common battles in a state where keeping buildings up to code is already difficult due to the climate. Condo boards in 65 counties are given complete jurisdiction over repairs, beyond what’s required by mandatory inspections once every four decades.
A new bill could require greater reserves and inspections for Florida condos. But it would likely face pushback from owners and investors who prefer to keep costs — and reserves — as low as possible, reports Prashant Gopal. Today on CityLab: In Florida, Petty Condo Politics Jeopardizes Residents' Safety